Indo-Pacific Endeavour (IPE) will embark on a new phase in 2025, further developing flexible options to enhance military-to-military engagements across Southeast Asia and the North East Indian Ocean.
Commander IPE 2025 Brigadier Jennifer Harris said the shift away from an embarked forces model allowed for greater flexibility in how Australia engaged with regional partners.
"Headquarters IPE has moved on from the embarked model that used to deploy into the region for two to three months," Brigadier Harris said.
"This enables a longer execution window, ensuring IPE is better integrated into the international engagement landscape.
"We now have the opportunity to engage with each of the IPE countries in a more tailored and nuanced way with specialist ADF teams that can fly in and out to enhance engagement opportunities.
"We have countries where Australia's military-to-military engagement is still in the early stages, and IPE has a role in building a foundation and understanding where we can work together as partners."
Since it began in 2017, IPE has grown and positioned itself to support deeper, more meaningful partnerships with other nations, as a flagship demonstration of the Australian Government's commitment to a peaceful, stable and prosperous region.
'We now have the opportunity to engage with each of the IPE countries in a more tailored and nuanced way.'
Headquarters IPE staff recently returned from scoping visits to Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Laos, and have identified a number of key themes that will feature in the 2025 IPE program.
"Countries are showing consistent interest in how we work together to develop human capital and culture, which focuses on our people," Brigadier Harris said.
"This includes an enduring foundation of English Language Training and growing interest in professional military education, workforce planning and unique cultural intersections such as faith and music.
"Maritime security and law, particularly as it intersects with new operating domains such as Cyber, is another popular space, especially regarding undersea infrastructure.
"Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) and peacekeeping operations (PKO) continue to feature strongly, particularly how we generate forces to conduct these types of operations.
"IPE has always provided an opportunity to explore new challenges together, and how we operate in new domains and integrate emerging and disruptive technologies remains a focus, integrating expertise from across whole of government and other sectors."
'I am inspired by what our Defence and Australian representative teams and hosts are achieving on the ground.'
Brigadier Harris said Cambodia presented an example of IPE's long-term value to the Indo-Pacific region, where Defence support, through training, language development and Gender, Peace and Security (GPS) initiatives, had contributed to their UN peacekeeping efforts.
"Now Cambodia is providing incredible contributions, under the command of great leaders (male and female), in the UN peacekeeping landscape," Brigadier Harris said.
"It's a strong example of how integrated engagement over multiple years can make a real difference."
Brigadier Harris pointed to growing collaboration in Laos, including with the Lao People's Army Women's Union, an organisation that plays a key role in family support, workforce development and the advancement of women in the military.
"I'm really excited to see how, as part of IPE, we work with these unique organisations to share knowledge, build capacity and strengthen our partnerships," she said.
IPE planners will continue to develop the 2025 program, and Brigadier Harris encouraged commanders across Defence to consider how IPE could reinforce and enhance their own activities across the region.
"ADF commanders and team leaders with the ability to provide training and capacity building in the region should engage IPE as a way to enhance and add value to what you might already be seeking to achieve in the region," Brigadier Harris said.
"I am inspired by what our Defence and Australian representative teams and hosts are achieving on the ground, and the work they do to cultivate positive enduring relationships."
